Chapter 37: Honorable Duel (5)
oDSxVVlad of Soararcs
JHaZvC“….”ljUxQ
M8wTA white snake entwined on a tree, alone on a deserted hill.GwZ
0eGic0Invisible in the child’s world, it listened silently with closed eyes.NRS5B
ltRjnwDrip-.uGWQvs
UdoqBThe white snake, shining with radiant light, slowly stretched while listening to the sounds coming from the mansion.THISHd7
4MgLApMDrip-K1gbRz
KoHX9Although it was clearly an unfamiliar sound, in that sound were the traces of someone he had imagined for a long time.jJzj
k0teSThen the snake lifted its head, pleased by the sound.YLu
yvKZyAs high as the sky.q39
cQ02w“…!”D3NyLpt
Bze2Then, it opened its mouth wide and emitted a sound that no one would hear.bx3c2
7b5That lonely sound, though it started from the ground, was only heard by the sky.ONRJPe
qJMlcaShoot!w5iuh
Sw74jIt was raining.OsvVhPJ
AYTeThey were responses to the snake’s voice.RX81N
TNv1MqASatisfied, feeling the raindrops, as the landscape stretched similarly to when it perched on a tree in the past.vLVt
PULThe small clouds summoned by the snake gathered, covering today’s sun.ilbd
PCjOoPNThe rain, descending from the clouds surrounding the sun, was a warm spring rain.xsKBG
KuNmIt was rain just for the child.c58V
9XLWbs***aIjuAue
EjUqEveryone was silent.Voj
m12eTung-mrg
82CHpThey didn’t even exhale a sigh, merely contemplating the spectacle before them.Mze9Vd
q0sSKj“Huh!”hVVje6v
DP8ltvkCrimson drops of blood sprayed out.IHjrCd
WQLAKMThey dripped from the tight grip of the boy.06a7OF
5aSXahhA plain sword, held tightly as if it would never let go.M75f
wCmbOA crimson glow flowed through it.Pqt6
99ymNThe boy’s will manifested through it.1P8FrL2
J6RY1“What the hell…”LXwp7
1vdyAcdEveryone was dumbfounded by what they were witnessing.h7UOU
8KrgThe blond boy’s movement cutting the knight’s sword over the squire.ZLfUsC
KbWkwLBoom-boom-boom.Info
TQC5And, perhaps an illusion, but there was the sound of a sword crying.1AOO
JjSLHm5[…]ymAHS
NKYThis wasn’t the sound of a voice in the boy’s soul.4Se
iS3The sound came from the unadorned sword the boy wielded, manifested with the dreams of an old man and the tears of a child but resonating through the determination of the boy.pq6
XrSxThe boy’s sword was crying.zHvqy
RTXNR“I didn’t teach you that!”rlpuovN
01LGbobJager, observing the scene, unconsciously touched the bandage, showing his surprise.xWfC
eUAVlad was nervous. While he longed to progress, he couldn’t help but see the footprints of the strong blocking his path.WrH
LNNPThe boy wanted to run fast because he longed to see the end, even though he couldn’t advance yet.6SZFRC
O40dUCHe shouldn’t have. A strong leap was only possible from solid ground.pyh
ZyGSo, he showed this spectacle as a temporary measure to calm Vlad’s impatience.4GGL
7Ck“I taught you the basics, and you’re already doing this!”VuAE
ZX15cQzBefore I knew it, I was stealing and using what was his.mYirmh8
lHbjI was learning and using things I hadn’t been taught.3Gb
V8bNzGThis shouldn’t have happened.s1R2e
WI4rE5This shouldn’t have happened.V229
PsS6oAA bewildered teacher, an amazed crowd, a worried woman.oXj
9emG“…”K37Cw
Mpq4WjmEven Joseph, who chose a certain defeat for the sake of the expected outcome.uEd
hHoIn the valid silence of each reason, within the hall, only the sound of swords clashing could be heard.TjfZK
DxHD0UTClang-!XE9hH3A
WO6JaThe boy’s sword, thin as a thread, though losing its sharpness, was full of firm determination.Vzh
zp07MPI will advance.b2YQ
09UzKBTowards those bright things I was not allowed.OFS5M0L
5JHT6“….”3PwF6U5
C0TPablo remained silent as he watched the boy take one step after another towards him.9zIhW
e6ifAPIt could have ended at any moment, but it didn’t.JL7
SfbThe wobbling the boy showed now was still mixed with intention.RNTbr
hCdhd8GClang-Clang-Clang.1E6
vQLJyhAnd the sword was crying.PqM
9mKOPablo watched the boy’s sword, listening to its cries, clearer because it was closer.08O
AF04“It can’t be.”k4pWSp
HiuiPHe couldn’t be sure, but it was a premonition.9zH
8q5He didn’t expect it to awaken in this place, but sometimes young seeds take root where they shouldn’t.hY9D
1JXWHuBAnd if what you think is correct.gxWKI
QeEl9“Come at me!”RTT
AlMPablo must fulfill his duty as a knight.dofbQAP
zKD4AEBecause he had sworn to do so.6c4Ap4
mnYDetermined, Pablo swung his sword against Vlad with all his might.ImbU8
7xrzkhFIt wasn’t a blow intended to subdue the boy.M2qlkH
4qDVzIt was to face him.cemB0m
WT7PQUThe boy’s world had just bloomed.35rQUBr
5XteB8vFrom the moment he heard the sword’s cry, the idea of a duel had long vanished from Pablo’s mind.3Fc
3yXWhat he was about to do was a knight’s duty, and an honor.QwEE
FOSh“Stop!”gZiKQ
YSmE6MThe boy’s sword screamed with each downward blow the knight gave.jYXSd
BMNSparks dripped from it with each counterattack the boy made.2RElTyJ
jxX1“What is that?”Xn80ap
3yO“Is the sword glowing?”424hp2X
X38gmGWAs the crowd watched in awe, a faint glow emanated from the boy’s sword.F9A
pNmmL4A shining sword.jrAHcxs
JiWm2ZcKnowing what it meant, the knights began to rise slowly from their seats.krYNvKK
lXPVlad’s teacher, Jager.myKT6
VKMu6hDuncan, the old bloodied knight.Ks1tkw2
jaVYColin, who had just tasted defeat.G9c
ObnDrPt“I guess he’s not the typical…”dHZCpM
VuTcOGgAnd even Jubert, who started all this mess.AFLES
Rm5Everyone, friends and foes alike.BnJ6
ZT3i8Because they were all knights.E8s
HBtValuable.5oFXk69
BgtgThe dragging of chairs as the knights pushed them mixed with the clash of sword against sword.eKxF
WvenThe boy’s sword was glowing.tF8du1J
NSFJxMIt was about to acquire its own color.hVAjLW
zkePBnEAll young and tender things in this world deserve to bloom.rfYvJ
g2nxPossibility is something beautiful, and those who can express it in their own world are precious.TXZgH
1amG4zThat’s why you must protect the moment.u7L3
Q72NBecause that’s what it means to be a knight.gKi
duYV8Pe“Shield! Give me my shield!”qBqB0
AwTTDPablo shouted urgently, finally seeing the light emanating from the boy.kWWEcr6
XxeKJAHeeding Pablo’s urgent cry, his squire grabbed the shield and tossed it into the dueling arena.BnDL0
MxH“Come at me!”I05
xnbQlAfPablo de Arnstein.gnW
yQuFJaClang!iPQJ5
ORKWmy7His sword and shield collided with a loud noise.HgYOXk
mWXmA vibrant yellow glow began to envelop his body, starting from his closed left eye.bgJP
qbhyPHL“I am Pablo de Arnstein!”5hEs
IROsLnPablo’s cry echoed in the hall.lPe
RWkzlFor everyone present to hear.uHy
NJHWCsHe looked at the boy and told him he didn’t deserve it.50PITw
KKbThis battlefield is not honorable, and this is not a duel.EXTb
ktaRIOCThat’s why he didn’t want to give his name.la6W9
R6ce“Tell me your name, lad!”2r06KG
4vVp04rBut now, with his shield raised, he shouted his name loudly.DJi6U3F
Vl5MKEQTowards a boy who was as worthy as him but had become honorable enough.Q6u3ih
GnYcxZg“I am…”FjW
IRD8y5ZIn his fading mind, Vlad walked through a fading memory.bnB9QB
TKVThrough dark alleys, beyond a forge with a shining star in front.pGAOG
ip5TgThrough his own home, now shattered, to a place once filled with shining things.Gni
nRsNhINA path, a difference.FrCCTP
yATTJEAlong it, light and darkness separated.mEC
pvjSeparate opportunity from chance.yZcXFJ
CM2UuUWhere you are born, you choose your life.TFbw
XeTW9I walked that path.kOS
aJFtA child entered a place he had never been before.3jNIQ
4HNEb6iTowards the bright place.Q4EXL9Z
okOWYaA boy born where he didn’t deserve to be but walks toward where it shines.y5cN
Fiw7He has proven his worth.FVkyB
zKQuSo he shouts.qAD
0HX“I am Vlad of Soara!”woSZ
HcAoAiIWith a small cry from the boy, the sword began to wrap in light.9TD
uqQWhile the sword-bearing worlds watched, a new flower bloomed.BvdXp
EtfxtyH“…!”K2VHSuU
9FjvTjqRain fell from the sky for the boy.taykac
Ir4LM3JAlthough the young seed was rooted in poisonous and filthy mud, it never stopped looking up, never stopped reaching for the stars.Vjt
F61Q3That’s why it can grow towards the light here and now.8QpjNjn
hhngC0L“Come! Vlad of Soara!”Ly6
dNpnAn intense glow began to fill the hall, created by the collision of the newly blossomed world with the solid world.cHM0s
s3t96UWith that light, a single flower finally bloomed.N20U9P5
39UfpIThe roots of the flower that the boy had created were an intense white.1PKOEjS
sP0oThe stem of the flower he had created was a flexible green.8TkTf
g0VVAnd the color of the petals of the boy’s flower is.Hn4x3
a6xG“Haaaaah!”Pi2ep
0DcThe blue of the waning moon.zlmMb
R21AGThe blue moonlight filtered through the aura Pablo had created.xxK5ap
2N1xoZDThe boy who borrowed honor made the moon rise today.mt5
VPPvxcWVlad of Soara.OTwiH
tghYGM2A new world blossomed today.YNSh
faE***pHILec5
sbBJaEj“Thank you.”7aJiSt
GGLS26Pablo said, embracing the boy with his arms.TtvWXtF
86rz5aHToward the boy whose eyes, although white, had not released his sword in the end.ZP64ZF9
axmjzMRed blood ran down the tip of the boy’s sword as he clung to it to save his life.SQDs
bgzA tribute to the boy who had just awakened to the world, those who knew.0ifrVr
rllXrThose who did not know had just begun to talk about the suddenly shining sword of the boy.aFHGr7
YJ5dT“That’s… Aura!”4aqiHFp
FKt1Endre shouted, his eyes fixed on the boy in front of him, jumping to the center of the hall.1IEevK
AIkfh2U“Using Aura in a duel is not allowed! Vlad of Soara is disqualified!”JFU
aSqogSProfit-driven men see a beautiful flower before them and think about the fruit it will bear when it has withered.Xu8l6
iMWEFGEndre’s appearance suited someone worthy of the law.Avp1XA
1NMAt Endre’s shout, a few people who were finally realizing nodded.ggG0ke
XYFr0Ax“Aura, it’s aura.”krQYs
FI9QEV“Was a squire able to use aura?”H6M7I
vZcb8“A squire of Bayezid, yes. Now that I think about it, the color of the armor he wears is…”BwtS5D
xbOpBy the time they realized the identity of the glow coming from the boy’s sword, there was a small murmur of voices discussing what they had just seen.VRyCQ
BjFFaL6“….”p3WqsU
btvBA man descended quietly.iyG
xoB6PJAlthough he did not say a word, everyone present paid attention to him.aHgAL
Nm8LC7He had a strong presence, and he deserved it.YrV
SMhJoseph of House Bayezid.ERG0B
9PNQA man of noble blood stood before the knight who brought his squire.SAhOj
Shpq“Thank you.”Qi1
FOcsSVHe bowed deeply in gratitude.18zIv
4Te“I appreciate you fulfilling your duty as a knight for my squire.”WsrQ
9u2X“It was only my duty.”5w7cdB
g3TwJHanding Vlad over to Jager, who followed him, Pablo bowed in unison with Joseph.sQ1kh
KWzE2“Priest.”jZ6
vf6After thanking Pablo for doing his best to break Vlad’s shell, Joseph turned his head and spoke quietly to the priest.TtB
Ig4p“Was it Aura?”P0TVDn
AKP“It was, yes.”xQ8IJ0
oT6xZTAt the priest’s answer, Joseph nodded stiffly.s5K
kktj65Disqualified, then.pt0v
GeAy24mSince the rules of this duel prohibited the use of Aura or avoiding killing.F9P3
AC0icOBut…J3TrG8
uQjK“Then let me ask you one more thing.”pcw9
KXm741pJoseph asked, looking with cold eyes at the drooling usurper sitting in front of him.oK6YoX
u4dRCji“What is the higher concept, the rules of the Sacred Duel or the discipline of the Swordmaster?”80bz
xKhNgme“…Oh, yes.”qOOGtt
7PoWThe priest sighed, touching his forehead as if he knew what was coming from Joseph’s question.Kqprp
YOaTZSSwordmaster.v08QP
qE68xVAn honorable title that only one can hold, recognized for centuries.Ax5zbs5
RK2oAnd with that honorable title came a discipline that only one man in the history of mankind has carried.gNhcH
b1PIt was a code that all knights must follow.ap6a
8FTCr4i“It is not for me to decide… here and now.”bmmLtY
dBrdoFThe priest presiding over the duel raised his hands in surrender.oXlvzE5
BZv“The discipline of a Swordmaster is an honor and a duty, and it also implies royalty. It is an area that I, as a follower of the Divine Will, dare not decide.”YU8sQ
6WGOl“…Is that so?”buRk6Y
CRMcRwJoseph smiled at the priest’s answer.dob9xMi
rLWK9eSo it was.yeUDmQ
ZS3d“Endre Heinal.”WhRhk
8YeQVEndre, who had a subtle look as if things were about to get weird, responded to Joseph’s call.ByJTo
GJQaYCA“What’s going on?”7oyfa
PrX5BJoseph thought as he looked at Endre, who looked at him with a perplexed expression.in9as
Aq7muBI asked you to give me time, and you created an opportunity.qmp
wClI asked you to choose the lesser of two evils, and you brought me the second best.F0eLY6K
do9VrSo I will take advantage of this opportunity you have given me.tedS
Sfk“The duel is suspended.”7j7Lgsx
FjEBefore Joseph’s answer, cracks began to form on Endre’s face like dry mud.FaG
oWKW5Suspended.rFSu
k3hBA word that was not disqualification, nor defeat, much less abstention.Vpx
FtPSlJoseph was now saying that he would postpone the outcome of the duel.vE8KJ
5HO4a“Well, what the hell.”KKlL
Q8rLK“Discipline and rules.”QfwDI
HZZCeswSaid the man with dark eyes with a smile as dark as the shadows.gi3ls0p
bpNXg5s“No one here can say what takes precedence, and I believe I must report what happened to the capital, where the Holy See and the royal family reside.”LTuu4TO
hd3Pablo raised his shield of his own will to fulfill his duty as a knight.DAAMWVd
eiPVFrom the moment he raised his shield, what was happening here was not an honorable duel.tW4UQO
a6ezThe discipline of the Swordmaster.8wsJqG
cKjPablo vowed to follow that discipline to become a knight, and today he helped awaken a new world as someone had intended long ago.al7
wrAHonor or duty.mOVoj
tYqCWNo one here can answer that.l2TR1
sqajThe nobles who can answer that question are not here but in the imperial capital of Brigantes.QCMu
CRC“Until a clear decision is made there, I propose that the result of today be suspended.”BXO13Cd
FnYEndre stood with his mouth open, incredulous.68t
XHmI don’t care what words come out of that mouth from now on.Jik
KL1Because Joseph had no intention of listening to anything that came out of his mouth.z6JZ
H7IEjJBecause this was an opportunity that no one was paying attention to, and he had not foreseen.g14pdb
m2s***Gkw
xvwqF4All that is young and tender in this world deserves to bloom.I0eO9
3bmanqjPossibility is a beautiful thing, and those who can express it in their own world are precious.M06
CshoAll those who bear the swords of honor.gx5
pFaPKnSwear in my name.y3Jjwqn
4o980That you will fulfill your duty.H2C
ubmm6As Swordmaster, and the founding king…rGA
Rny… I, ‘Frausen,’ declare this as my first code.uGoWK
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